Buhari promises to fight corruption in other African countries

macfranc007 July 01, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Adeola Opeyemi

- President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to fight corruption in other African countries

- The president made this statement in Mauritania while speaking on corruption

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday, July 1, in Nouakchott, Mauritania, pledged to extend his anti-corruption crusade across the African continent as part of deliberate efforts to sensitize Africans on the evil effects of corruption on societies.

Femi Adesina, the president’s special adviser said in a statement that President Buhari made the pledge during his introductory remarks as the leader of the African Union theme of the year, Winning the Fight against Corruption, A Sustainable Path to Africas Transformation.

President Buhari, who spoke shortly before the commencement of the debate on the African Anti-Corruption Year, revealed that he had embarked on various programmes meant to enhance the fight against corruption in a bid to transform the continent.

He said: “During the last six months, we have engaged in multi-sectoral dialogue with a broad range of actors including parliamentarians, national anti-corruption agencies, civil society, media, youth and women groups and development partners.

“We have convened three (3) different regional Consultative Workshops in line with my campaign programme in an effort to sensitize our people on the evil effects of corruption on our societies.

“These workshops will be extended to other regional blocs as we continue the fight against corruption in a bid to transform our continent.”

Buhari also informed the gathering of his intention to partner with the AU Chairperson to further push the frontiers of the anti-corruption battle.

President Buhari said he planned to convene the African Youth Congress in Abuja within the next quarter to furthet boost the anti-corruption in the continent.

“We will be working with the Chairman of the African Union, Paul Kagame and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, to organize an Interactive Dialogue on the theme at the next session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York during the high level segment,’’ he added.

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The president also called on all other Member States that are yet to ratify the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combatting Corruption to take all necessary measures to sign and ratify it with a view to achieving its universal ratification this year.

He noted that the Republic of Mauritius had ratified (Convention) it and thereby becoming the 40th State Party to the Convention.

The President thanked African Heads of State and Government “for the continued support provided to me in driving and amplifying the African Union anti-corruption agenda.

“Your unwavering support remains a strong source of strength and encouragement as we look forward to an even more vigorous second half of this year,’’ he added.

Buhari recalled that the meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council held under the chairmanship of Nigeria in April 2018 highlighted the corrosive effect that corruption can have on societies.

He said the meeting also considered the link between corruption and conflict and its implications for peace and security in Africa.

The President said the meeting concluded by emphasizing the need to utilize South-South cooperation mechanisms through voluntary information exchange, mutual legal assistance and sharing of best practices among national anti-corruption agencies, audit agencies and investigative bodies.

NAIJ.com earlier reported that the presidency says it has uncovered plans by those described as “Nigerian looters” to disrupt the ongoing official visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to London.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), sources in the presidency told State House correspondents on Tuesday, April 10, that the alleged looters and corrupt elements had rented motley crowd of professional demonstrators to protest against President Buhari on his arrival to London.

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